{"id":345,"date":"2010-02-23T16:10:23","date_gmt":"2010-02-23T16:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/?p=345"},"modified":"2010-02-23T16:10:23","modified_gmt":"2010-02-23T16:10:23","slug":"beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond &#8220;The Mayor&#8221;: Fenton Village Character"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">On the rare occasions that the words &#8220;architectural character&#8221; and &#8220;Fenton Village&#8221; are used in the same sentence, they are usually also joined by the words &#8220;lack&#8221;, &#8220;dearth&#8221;, and &#8220;paucity&#8221; (ADMIT IT!). \u00a0(For the uninitiated, the Fenton Village is centered one block east of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, north of the train tracks.) \u00a0 These exclamations are not without foundation: Silver Spring Towers, Safeway, and 8120 Fenton Street are not doing the street any favors. \u00a0Nor do the converted and expiring bungalows and four-squares suggest a Village with a unique character (cf. Forest Hills Gardens, et. al).<\/p>\n<p>But the dedicated observer (thank you!) will notice that, scattered about its ten or twelve blocks, Fenton Village has many buildings that share an engaging architectural language that includes a mix of modernist, deco, and simple classical elements \u00a0(I will let the Silver Spring Historical Society provide the nomenclature). \u00a0These buildings are most typically one and two stories (mostly retail, restaurant, and service), but there are a few more-vertical examples (pretty much office buildings).<\/p>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-e1266941343681.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-360\" title=\"Fenton\" src=\"http:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-e1266941343681.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"513\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a>\n<p>These buildings are scaled to engage and define the street and provide an urban village (add your own quotes as necessary) feel characteristic of the models to which Fenton Village seems to aspire: Mount Pleasant Street and Columbia Road in the District. \u00a0As more development proposals come in for Fenton Village (six and counting!), \u00a0the design teams should build upon these precedents (not literally!). \u00a0So, the next time you head over to Fenton Village to get your fix of good coffee, comic books, golden oldie 45s, used books, Ethiopian food, or spicy beef patty, hold your head up high (literally!) and check out the cool wallpaper.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row-fluid\"><ul class=\"thumbnails\"><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/fenton\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A street view of a building with red and glass exterior, featuring a vertical &quot;Travel&quot; sign. A blue and white bus is passing by on the road, with trees lining the sidewalk.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/fenton-silver-spring-4\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-Silver-Spring-4-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Street corner with a two-story brick building featuring a glass storefront. Various businesses, including a K-Jeans store, are visible. A pedestrian crosses under traffic lights.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/fenton-easley\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-Easley-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Street corner with a red brick two-story building, featuring large windows displaying colorful items. A gray car is on the road, and a street sign indicates \u201cEnjoy St.\u201d Tall beige buildings are in the background with streetlights and trees nearby.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/fenton-bonifant-1\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Fenton-Bonifant-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A street view of a brick auto repair shop with several cars parked outside. Signs are displayed on the building, and modern multi-story buildings are in the background.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/dry-cleaner-fenton-thayer-1\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Dry-Cleaner-Fenton-Thayer-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A city street corner featuring a building with a red and white striped facade, adjacent to a stone wall. Nearby, two people cross the street while a white truck drives past. Traffic lights and trees are visible in the background.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/chinese-restaurant-sligo-1\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Chinese-Restaurant-Sligo-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A street view of a Chinese restaurant named &quot;Dragon City&quot; with a red sign on its roof. The building has stone accents and large windows. Several cars are parked outside on a sunny day.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/thayer\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Thayer-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A modern office building with a red brick facade and glass windows is shown. It is two stories tall, with a &quot;For Lease&quot; sign in front. Several cars are parked along the street, and yellow tape lines the edge of a nearby parking lot.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/sligo-selim\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Sligo-Selim-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A red brick corner building with large windows and black awnings. A sign for &quot;jackie&#039;s&quot; is visible on the side. Power lines run alongside the building.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/silver-spring-fenton\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Silver-Spring-Fenton-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A two-story brick building on a street corner houses a hand clinic and a vitamin store on the ground floor. A car is parked nearby, and traffic lights are visible. The sky is clear, and the scene is from a small urban area.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/silver-spring-3\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Silver-Spring-3-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A four-story beige building with rectangular windows and a recessed entrance, set against a blue sky. It is adjacent to a small house on the right, with some bushes and a street in the foreground.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/philadelphia\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Philadelphia-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A brick auto repair shop with a sign reading &quot;Hanagan&#039;s Auto.&quot; Several cars are parked outside on a gravel lot. Green trees line the side, and a &quot;Customer Parking&quot; sign is visible.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/jackies-sligo\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Jackies-Sligo-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A brick building with a storefront sign reading &quot;jackie&#039;s&quot; in pink letters. The building has large windows and a modest entrance. A person sits next to a door on the right, and a vehicle is parked nearby. A garage with a blue-and-white door is adjacent.\" \/><\/a><\/li><li class=\"span2\"><a class=\"thumbnail\" href='https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/greyhound-fenton-sligo\/'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/Greyhound-Fenton-Sligo-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A Greyhound bus station with a blue awning and a sign reading &quot;Welcome to Silver Spring, MD.&quot; Two people are sitting on benches outside, with payphones nearby.\" \/><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"lead\">On the rare occasions that the words &#8220;architectural character&#8221; and &#8220;Fenton Village&#8221; are used in the same sentence, they are usually also joined by the words &#8220;lack&#8221;, &#8220;dearth&#8221;, and &#8220;paucity&#8221; (ADMIT IT!). \u00a0(For the uninitiated, the Fenton Village is centered one block east of Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, north of the train tracks.) \u00a0 These exclamations are not without foundation: Silver Spring Towers, Safeway, and 8120 Fenton Street are not doing the street any favors. \u00a0Nor do the converted and expiring bungalows and four-squares suggest a Village with a unique character (cf. Forest Hills Gardens, et. al).<\/p>\n<p>But the dedicated observer (thank you!) will notice that, scattered about its ten or twelve blocks, Fenton Village has many buildings &#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/2010\/02\/beyond-the-mayor-fenton-village-character\/\" class=\"read-more\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,5,20],"tags":[39],"class_list":["post-345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-architecture","category-design","category-planning","category-public-spaces","tag-fenton-village"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":383,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345\/revisions\/383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montgomeryplanning.org\/blog-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}